ReWire Tutorial Article Live - Step 4: Using multiple ReWire channels

In "Step 2: Routing Audio" we set the complete Reason mix to be routed via ReWire to Live. But what if you want to make individual mixer settings for a separate device?

Flip the Reason rack around by pressing the [Tab] key. Each input jack in the Reason Hardware Interface corresponds to a separate ReWire channel. Each of these jacks can be routed to Live, to separate audio channels.

In this example we want add a VST effect to a Subtractor sound and add some compression to an individual Redrum sound. We’ll need to activate two ReWire channels in Live and route the individual Reason devices to the corresponding inputs on the Reason Hardware Interface:

1. In Live, Create as many Audio Tracks as you need ReWire inputs.

2. Activate Reason as the Input device for the tracks you created.

3. Activate one or several additional channels - let's say you activate channels 3 and 4.

4. In Reason, flip the rack around by pressing [Tab].

5. Locate the Subtractor device and disconnect it from the Reason mixer. Instead, connect it to input nr 3 on the Hardware Interface at the top of the rack.

6. Locate the Redrum device and the drum sound channel to which you want to add some processing. Connect the individual output of that drum sound channel to input nr 4 on the Hardware Interface.

7. Go back to Live and start playback.

Now the sound of the Subtractor device and the individual drum sound appear on separate ReWire channels in the mixer. You can make individual mixer settings for these, add effects or EQ and route them as desired!

In this example we used Reason's mixer to mix most of the devices to the "1/2: Mix L, Mix R" ReWire channel and only routed a few devices directly to the hardware interface. This is one way to work, Alternatively, you could route all devices to separate ReWire channels. If you choose the alter option, you don't need to use Reason's mixer at all - all mixing is done in Live!